Whatever mode you learn is the correct one - there is no wrong mode. Just make sure whatever mode you learn is the one you want to stay with. Once you start training in that mode the brain is wired and it is nearly impossible to un-wire it.

There's a guy in our club who flies both modes no problem. I don't know how he does it, but he does. It's clearly not impossible, but it must be wicked hard.

It is simply not logical to use mode 1 for helicopters though. For basic flying it's probably fine, but think about doing piro-flips with mode 1... with mode 2, you "stir" the cyclic stick in a circle - but with mode 1, you would be executing a very complicated mixture of moves on both hands. Piro flips involve that anyway, but I think it makes more sense with mode 2. Piro flips are an obvious example, but many of the simpler 3D moves involve stirring the cyclic in ways which are intuitive in mode 2, but confusing as hell in mode 1.

SO, I think if you want to eventually fly 3D, you're gonna want to learn mode 2. AND, I know that some of our Australian heli pilots use mode 2 for the reasons I said, in spite of the local airplane guys mostly using mode 1. It's a matter of doing what will serve you best, even if it's not popular.

Thanks for all your feedback I am in Australia. I bought a dx6i and I have no heli yet. I reckon the cyclic control would be easier on the right but it is on the left... As my throttle is definitely on the right.

I have never flown and am very keen to learn properly from the start so I don't learn too many bad mistakes.

Cheers Luke

Sounds like you have a mode 1 tx, If you cannot exchange it then it is possible to change the mode on some tx's. I believe it is possible for spectrum and here is a link on how to do it.

There's a guy in our club who flies both modes no problem. I don't know how he does it, but he does. It's clearly not impossible, but it must be wicked hard.

It is simply not logical to use mode 1 for helicopters though. For basic flying it's probably fine, but think about doing piro-flips with mode 1... with mode 2, you "stir" the cyclic stick in a circle - but with mode 1, you would be executing a very complicated mixture of moves on both hands. Piro flips involve that anyway, but I think it makes more sense with mode 2. Piro flips are an obvious example, but many of the simpler 3D moves involve stirring the cyclic in ways which are intuitive in mode 2, but confusing as hell in mode 1.

SO, I think if you want to eventually fly 3D, you're gonna want to learn mode 2. AND, I know that some of our Australian heli pilots use mode 2 for the reasons I said, in spite of the local airplane guys mostly using mode 1. It's a matter of doing what will serve you best, even if it's not popular.

I think the way I have it is mode 3??? And my cyclic stick is on the left? The right is just throttle and tail rotor, no?

I think the way I have it is mode 3??? And my cyclic stick is on the left? The right is just throttle and tail rotor, no?

The stock dx6i doesn't come mode 3. I fly mode 3 and had to buy a Dx7s because it offers mode 1-4 switching. So someone must have modded your dx6i. Maybe if you open it up you will see their mod, and maybe it's easily reversible. Like if it was just the original wire harnesses spliced and connected to reverse sides of the board.

I tried to switch to mode2 soon after I already started flying, but all the training I already did before that was mode3 so I was pretty much stuck with it, and very dumb thumbed with mode2. But if you're just starting out in the hobby, I suggest going with mode2, as it's what most people run and you'll be able to benefit from watching what others are doing with the sticks on videos and wherever else. Plus, most transmitters only come mode1 or mode2, so it kind of limits your options of future purchases. It made me spend more than I wanted to on the Dx7s, than if I would have bought the dx6i mode2.

Ok I'll re explain.
I have bought a dx6i to use on Phoenix 4 software to learn basic heli flying before I spend a fortune on going out to crash new helis.
Now my dx6i has the throttle lever on the right thumb. The left had the elevator control and the tail rotor yaw. So far so good. My googling identifies this as mode 2? However, whilst playing around with basic setting config in Phoenix4 I have been able to make the right stick throttle and yaw. And the left stick cyclic left,right,up,down control. Much easier to control. My googling finds that this is mode 3. Ppl say dx6i cannot do this so I have bought a modded one? However, I didn't, this is brand new out of the box... Any ideas? Am I gonna be able to run my current setup on my first real heli?

Ok do us a favor... go into a new airplane model and clear it just to make sure the defaults are set. Then go into the servo monitor screen, wiggle each stick and tell us which item moves in the servo monitor. I'm starting to think you have a normal mode 1 radio but you mapped some of the channels wrong.